Lee County Community Redevelopment Agency
2180 West First Street Suite 306
Fort Myers, Fl 33901

Fort Myers, Fl, October 26, 2000 - Construction will begin Monday October 30, 2000 on the final phase of the North Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency Business 41 improvement project. In July 1999, the North Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency approved the construction of a circular, multi-colored paver design to improve the aesthetics of the intersection of Business 41 and Pondella. The paver design is Phase II of the improvement project which also included the recently completed landscaping at the base of the Edison Bridges.

In response to local business concerns the Community Redevelopment Agency, the Lee County Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Transportation have developed a Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plan with the contractor that will cut the construction time for this project in half. The original plan required a 90-day construction period but the new MOT or construction phasing plan will allow the contractor to complete the project in 45 days. The contractor will be working days and nights to accelerate the construction schedule. Some of the facts about the construction are:

• Construction to begin 10/30/00, contractor will be working days and nights

• Construction schedule is approximately 45 days – half the time of the original planned schedule – contractor goal is complete sooner

• All businesses to remain open during the construction period - business accesses will be signed

• Construction will be completed before the Christmas shopping season

• North bound traffic will be directed east on Cardinal, north on Lavin, west on Willis back to Business 41

• South bound traffic will be directed west to US 41 for approximately 2 to 3 weeks, to cross the river via the Caloosahatchee Bridge while the west half of the intersection is under construction. As soon as the west half is complete, south bound traffic will resume as normal

• East bound Pondella traffic should use the Caloosahatchee Bridge the first few weeks in November, check the variable message signs for reopening message

• The north and south U-Turn movements on Business 41 at Pondella will remain open during construction